BOSTON UNIVERSITY FALL 2006 SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. LW740 - Human Rights and Health

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1 BOSTON UNIVERSITY FALL 2006 SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH LW740 - Human Rights and Health Instructors: Michael A. Grodin, MD <grodin@bu.edu> George J. Annas, JD, MPH <annasgj@bu.edu> Office: Health Law, Talbot 3W Phone: Fax: Time: Tuesdays 2:30-5:00 p.m. Location: T 307C Office Hours: By appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION The health of people worldwide is closely linked to the realization of human rights. For example, preventable illness, infant mortality, premature death, malnutrition, and epidemics are closely tied to discrimination, limits on freedom of expression, oppression of women, lack of education, and inhumane labor practices. This course explores the relationship between human rights and health by examining relevant international declarations (e.g., UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR) in historical context, exploring the meaning of human rights and their challenge to state sovereignty, discussing the meaning of health and its relationship to human fulfillment, and analyzing specific case studies that illuminate the problems, prospects, and potential methods of promoting health by advocating for human rights on the national and international levels. Goals and Objectives: By the end of this course the student will: 1. Understand the relationship between human rights and health. 2. Be familiar with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Conventions on Human Rights and relevant documents related to health and human rights. 3. Describe the impact of human rights abuses on health 4. Cite case examples of the interrelatedness of public health and human rights. 5. Identify the role of public health practitioners in the field of health and human rights 6. Understand the history, role, and function of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in addressing human rights problems. 7. Be able to determine when human rights have been violated, as well as to suggest strategies to protect and promote human rights. 8. Identify strategies for human rights advocacy within public health program planning. Students: This course will be of special interest to the non-u.s. students (who are exempt from the introductory U.S.-focused Health Law courses) as well as U.S. students interested in international health, international law, and human rights. Prerequisites: None

2 Course Texts: Wiesel E. Night, Bantam, 1982, ISBN: (pbk.) Twenty-five Questions on Health and Human Rights from World Health Organization Available at Questions The United Nations. Twenty-five Human Rights Documents, New York: Center for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University, ( Documents 25 ) Marks S. Health and Human Rights: Basic International Documents, 2 nd edition. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006, ISBN: (pbk). ( Documents ) Amnesty International Ethical Codes and Declarations Relevant to the Health Professions, 4 th edition. London: Amnesty International, ( Codes ) Available at Mann J, Gruskin S, Grodin M, Annas G. Health and Human Rights: A Reader, New York: Routledge, 1999, ISBN (pbk) ( Reader ) Gruskin S, Grodin M, Annas G, Marks S. Perspectives on Health and Human Rights, New York: Routledge, 2005, ISBN X (pbk) ( Perspectives ) Additional Resources: World Wide Web Course Info Course Requirements: A 20 page research paper (80% of final grade) addressing a specific problem in the area of human rights and health. The topic, outline, and bibliography must be submitted and discussed with faculty prior to writing final paper. The paper will be written in two parts. Part I: Define the nature, scope, and context of a human rights and health problem; identify the impediments that have thus far prevented effective action to solve the problem; Part II: prepare a detailed proposed policy agenda for problem resolution that includes identifying foes and allies, funding considerations, implementation strategies, and mechanisms for review of plan efficacy. The final submission package will include: 1. Topic Proposal (approved)

3 2. Initial Bibliography (approved) 3. Paper Outline (approved) 4. Part I of paper (with comments) 5. Part II of paper 6. Oral Presentation Handouts or PowerPoint 7. Cover Letter to NGO funding source Students will also give a brief (12-15 minute) oral presentation of their proposals to the class (10% of final grade). Class participation, preparation of the readings and quizzes will also be considered in the final grade (10% of final grade). Class Logistics: Late assignments: While we would like to be lenient with late assignments, giving full credit to late work (without a valid excuse or prior arrangement) is unfair to the students who hand their work in on time. If you are absent, arrange the delayed submission in advance with Prof. Grodin. Absences: Because we care about each of you, you will be missed if absent!!! Attendance will be taken at all classes. If you are or have been ill or if you are unable to attend a class, you should contact Prof. Grodin as soon as possible. The positive side of this is that we care enough about you to be concerned when you are missing important parts of the course. Academic conduct: You should read the Academic Conduct Code, which you can pick up in the office of student affairs. All work handed in for credit must be your own, with the exception that you may quote or paraphrase from other sources if you also cite the reference and page number. If you need help, consult with Prof. Grodin or Annas. Lecture and assignment schedules: The lecture and assignment schedule is on the following pages. These schedules and topics are subject to change, in which case announcements will be made in class.

4 COURSE OUTLINE CLASS ONE: (September 5) Health and Human Rights in the Shadow of the Holocaust; Introduction to Health and Human Rights; the Link Between Health Status, Vulnerability, and Rights Wiesel (entire book) Questions Documents pp , for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Reader Pp Perspectives Pp. xiii-xx, 1-70, CLASS TWO: (September 12) Human Rights Instruments and Documents: The International Bill of Human Rights Documents Pp , , for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Codes Reader Pp Perspectives Pp re read CLASS THREE: (September 19) Human Rights in Public Health Practice Universality vs. Cultural & Ethical Relativism, From Theory to Practice (Case Study: Female Genital Cutting, Informed Consent, Sexual and Reproductive Rights) Documents Pp for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Reader Pp Perspectives Pp PAPER TOPIC DUE CLASS FOUR: (September 26) Non-Governmental Organizations: Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights, Global Lawyers and Physicians Reader Pp Perspectives Pp , , OUTLINE OF PAPER DUE

5 CLASS FIVE: (October 3) AIDS & TB Policy and Research and Its Relation to Human Rights Discrimination, Immigration, and Stigmatization. Case Study: AIDS in Africa Treatment and/or Prevention Documents Pp , , for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Reader Pp , , Perspectives Pp , UN Millennium Statement CLASS SIX: (October 17) Human Rights in Extremis, Humanitarian Law, Geneva Convention Physician Involvement in Human Rights Violations Armed Conflict and Torture. Case Study: Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights Documents Pp , , for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Reader Pp Perspectives Pp PART ONE OF PAPER DUE CLASS SEVEN: (October 24) International Criminal Court and Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Documents Pp for complete text of documents see Documents 25 CLASS EIGHT: (October 31) Families, Women, and Children and Human Rights Problems of Gender and Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Empowerment of Women and Children, Population Control, CRC, CEDAW, Cairo, Beijing Documents Pp for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Reader Pp Perspectives Pp CLASS NINE: (November 7) Economics and Human Rights Development, Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; Sanctions, Multinational Corporations, World Bank, IMP, Structural Adjustment, Debt Relief Reader Pp

6 Perspectives Pp CLASS TEN: (November 14) Biotechnology, Genetics, and the Environment Documents Pp , for complete text of documents see Documents 25. Reader Pp Perspectives Pp CLASS ELEVEN: (November 21) Human Rights Education, Oral Presentations, Use of Media Guest: Rob Schadt, Office of Teaching, Learning and Technology CLASS TWELVE: (November 28) Oral Presentations and Discussion of Individual Papers CLASS THIRTEEN: (December 5) Oral Presentations and Discussion of Individual Papers CLASS FOURTEEN: (December 12) Human Right to Health Re-read Documents Pp , for complete text of documents see Documents 25 Perspectives Pp FINAL PAPER DUE CLASS FIFTEEN: (December 12) Future of Health and Human Rights, Human Rights Advocacy; Lobbying; Course Review Reader Pp Perspectives Pp

7 PAPER TOPIC AREAS IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND HEALTH 1. Generally: Sexual rights and health in [country or region] Refugees and internally displaced people in [country] Mental health and human rights in [country] Environment, health and human rights [focusing on specific environmental problem] Universalism and cultural relativism [in specific context] HIV/AIDS: New frontiers in Prevention Health professionals and the legacy of Nuremberg: Where should we go from here? Complex humanitarian emergencies: Lessons from past failures (e.g. Somalia) Homelessness: Is it a human rights issue? Women s health and human rights in [country] Child labor: Necessary evil for economic development? 2. Specifically (Paper Topics from Past Years): Truthtelling and Patients Rights in Japan: The Case of HIV Child Prostitution in Brazil Rape as a War Crime in Bosnia Persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt Palestinian Human Rights in the West Bank Economic Sanctions in South Africa Needle Exchange Program in Anchorage, Alaska Group Consent Human Genome Diversity Project Child Soldiers - the role of children in armed conflict Trafficking: Sale of women/children into forced prostitution in Thailand-effects on health Corporal Punishment in U.S. Schools Mandatory HIV testing of infants & women's rights Dowry-related crimes in India Canadian Red Cross Tainted Blood Scandal

8 The Ogoni situation in Nigeria HIV vaccine in developing countries Routine Episiotomy as violation of women's human rights TB in developing countries in a context of human rights & health Human Rights: A new basis for public health? Guatemalan Human Rights abuses: The 1996 Peace Accord Environmental Protection & Disease Prevention Physicians Role in Torture in Turkey Human Rights Violation in Orphanages in China Capital Punishment in U.S. Death Row Inmates - Human Rights Violations Torture and the Medical Profession in Chile Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt Enforcing the Biological Weapons Convention Environmental Degradation as a Human Rights Violation HIV Clinical Trials in Africa Involuntary Sterilization Women, Reproductive Rights, and Pregnancy Discrimination in Mexico Disability Rights in China Effectiveness of the Truth Commission and Human Rights in El Salvador Human Rights of the Elderly- A New Convention on Human Rights The Media Campaign to Abolish the Death Penalty Native American Land Claims Embargos Including Food and Medicine as a Political Weapon Human Rights and China's Orphan Policy Genocide and Unaccompanied Children in Rwanda Chernobyl: Environmental Contamination from Nuclear Power Plants The Taliban's Rule Over Women Human Rights, Political Asylum Seekers, and Victims of Torture The Problem of Early Marriage within a Health and Human Rights Framework HIV/AIDS Vaccine Clinical Trials Human Rights of the Mentally Ill

9 Combatants and Prisoners in Guantanomo Psychiatric Medicating Prisoners on Death Row to be Executed Small Arms and Liberia Persecution of the Baha i in Iran Child Labourers in the Carpet Weaving Belts of India Cameroon and the Anglophones: Health and Human Rights Context Life after Landmines: Survivor Assistance Programs in Cambodia Caring for Mauritanian Slaves Creation of a Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Sexual Minorities New Mechanisms for Protecting Informed Consent in East Africa Child Soldiers in Sri Lanka The Role of Physicians in War: Health and Human Rights Violations at Abu Ghraib Prison Juvenile Detention Centers in Rio de Janeiro